the church also says it adheres to all child labor laws. paul resigned from the church in 2009 and made his break public two years ago when "the new yorker" published a controversial profile by reporter lawrence wright. >> i expected when i did this interview with larry, would people just go, oh, this is the stupidest man on earth, isn't it? and i probably am. i think that's the problem. you are purposely blind. i was purposely blind. >> reporter: you chose to be blind? >> of course we choose. anybody within a group like this has to choose to be blind. >> reporter: paul says he's been shunned by those in the scientology community but as heard from others that heard of his resignation gave them the courage to quit as well. lawrence wright's new book is out today. it's called "going clear," it's based on wrighs investigation of the church, including interviews with more than 200 people, mostly former members. >> i was struck that people i met with initially were bright and interesting people. they were not freakish. they were not a crackpot.